Hounsfield residents talk about future development at session

Hounsfield residents had their say Wednesday at a session held to get their opinions on the towns growth.

A few dozen residents who circled through the town office, 18774 County Route 66, marked their opinions on poster boards that represented areas of growth in housing and business along with recreational and public services.

A projector played a slideshow with facts about the town and its 3,384 residents, who will have another opportunity to participate Saturday.

This is the process, said Khristopher A. Dodson, senior program manager for the Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University, which has partnered with the town. This is local government, people talking about what they want in their community.

Other statistics displayed from a survey completed last year were that the towns residents like its location, services and rural character, and have a median income of about $60,000.

At a poster about housing growth, town resident Christopher J. Nichols and friend John S. Humphrey, Brownville, talked with David W. Altieri, heritage area director for the village of Sackets Harbor, about future growth.

Residents could place a sticker to mark the kind of housing theyd like to see, single-family or manufactured homes along with apartments or a senior living center. The poster had a map where attendees could mark where theyd like to see the growth.

Mr. Nichols, a town resident since 1995, said he liked the charm of the town of Hounsfield and village of Sackets Harbor. While everything has grown out in the city, here in the town it has stayed relatively calm, he said. I like the village the way it is.

At the public services poster, Stephen S. Sullivan, a 32-year member of the Sackets Harbor Fire Department, said he liked the pace of growth in the town.

Everything kind of melds together, instead of working to adjust to a bunch of new things at one time, Mr. Sullivan said.

Stickers on the board about halfway through the session indicated there was a demand for expanded recycling services.

Town Supervisor Timothy W. Scee said the turnout was what he expected, and he was pleased a large number of people are interested in contributing to the process.

Councilman Stephen H. Lee said the best comment he heard during the session was Thanks for asking.

Results of Wednesdays session and a session Saturday will be used to help the town craft a new comprehensive plan later this year.

Saturdays session will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the town office.

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